Bertelsmann Foundation
Fundación Bertelsmann is an independent Spanish non-profit foundation, founded in 1995, that develops education and career-guidance programs — including the Xcelence self-assessment framework, Empresas Que Inspiran, and dual vocational training alliances — for educational centers, students, companies, and public administrations in Spain.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersBarcelona, Spain
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bertelsmann Foundation does
Fundación Bertelsmann is an independent non-profit foundation established in Spain in 1995 and affiliated with the German Bertelsmann Stiftung. It operates from Madrid headquarters (Espacio Bertelsmann, C/ O'Donnell, 10) and a Barcelona delegation office, with a staff of 11–50 employees. Its mission centers on promoting positive social change, with special emphasis on education, youth training, and the connection between education and the labor market.
The foundation's core offer is the Xcelence model, a quality reference framework for academic-professional career guidance in secondary education, defining 10 standardized keys adapted from the UK Gatsby Benchmarks. This is operationalized through the Xcelence.es digital self-assessment platform, which has accumulated more than 900 evaluations across Spanish educational centers between 2019 and 2024, and through complementary programs such as Empresas Que Inspiran (connecting companies with schools), Escuelas Que Inspiran, and dual vocational training initiatives including the Alianza para la FP Dual (2014–2025) and the FP 2030 Challenges agenda. The foundation also publishes annual reports, including "El estado de la orientación académico-profesional según Xcelence" and "Radiografía de la Formación Dual Universitaria."
As a non-profit, Fundación Bertelsmann does not generate commercial revenue; its Xcelence self-assessment tool is provided free of charge to educational centers, and its activities are funded through its endowment and partnerships. Its go-to-market is event-driven and policy-oriented, combining direct engagement with schools, universities, and municipalities; multi-stakeholder alliances (Grupo Anaya, Fundación CEOE, Fundación Gatsby, Teach for All, JP Morgan Chase Foundation, OECD); and awards programs (Premios a la Excelencia en Orientación, Premios a la Excelencia en FP). Primary beneficiaries are educational centers, students, companies, and public administrations across Spain.
Bertelsmann Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bertelsmann Foundation
- Legal name
- FUNDACIÓN BERTELSMANN
- Website
- https://fundacionbertelsmann.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fundación Bertelsmann is an independent Spanish non-profit foundation, founded in 1995, that develops education and career-guidance programs — including the Xcelence self-assessment framework, Empresas Que Inspiran, and dual vocational training alliances — for educational centers, students, companies, and public administrations in Spain.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bertelsmann Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education and Career Guidance Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB), Online/Hybrid Overseas Pathway & Bridging Programs (EDAIAJAK)
Keywords
Where Bertelsmann Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barcelona
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Bertelsmann Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Foundation Operations: Fundación Bertelsmann operates as an independent non-profit organization. As a foundation, it does not generate commercial revenue but carries out projects funded by its endowment and partnerships to promote positive social change, particularly in education and youth training.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free self-assessment tool for all educational centers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Bertelsmann Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fundación Bertelsmann develops and disseminates programs that improve academic-professional orientation and dual vocational training in Spain. Its core offer is the Xcelence framework (10 keys for quality career guidance in educational centers), supported by a free digital self-assessment platform (xcelence.es), the Escuelas que Inspiran pilot, and the Empresas que Inspiran program that connects companies with schools. It also runs dual training initiatives (Alianza para la FP Dual, Retos FP 2030, dual university training) and publishes research such as the Radiografía de la Formación Dual Universitaria.
Product overview
Bertelsmann Foundation operates a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on education and career guidance in Spain. The core Xcelence framework provides a quality model for academic-professional orientation in secondary education, supported by a digital self-assessment platform. The Empresas que Inspiran program connects companies with schools for student career experiences. The dual vocational training (Formación Dual) area encompasses university-level dual education initiatives, the FP 2030 Challenges project, and the Aliança para la FP Dual alliance. Publications and reports provide research and analysis supporting these programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Xcelence: A reference model for career guidance developed by Fundación Bertelsmann, based on international standards, defining 10 keys for quality orientation in educational centers.
- Empresas que Inspiran
- Espacio Bertelsmann
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 900 evaluations conducted through Xcelence self-assessment tool (2019-2024)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bertelsmann Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bertelsmann Foundation technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Bertelsmann Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Fundación CEOEcoreCo-implementers of the Premio a la Excelencia en FP, recognizing commitment to vocational training in Spain and visibility to good practices.
- Teach for AllflagshipLead organization of Global Career Education Network (GCEN), an international network of entities dedicated to improving career guidance systems globally. Supported by JP Morgan Chase Foundation.
- Grupo AnayacoreJoint initiative for Awards for Excellence in Orientation (Premios a la Excelencia en Orientación). Grupo Anaya has developed Henko, the first comprehensive academic-professional guidance service for educational centers in Spain.
- Bertelsmann StiftungcoreParent organization based in Gütersloh, Germany. Fundación Bertelsmann in Spain operates as part of the global Bertelsmann foundation network, sharing resources, expertise, and strategic alignment with the German foundation.
- Global Career Education Network (GCEN) membersflagshipNetwork includes: Fundació Antarang (India), Article 1 (France), Con I Bambini (Italy), The Careers & Enterprise Company (UK), Fundación China para la Investigación del Desarrollo (China), Empieza Por Educar (Spain), Fundación Iochpe (Brazil), Phineo (Germany), and Fundación Bertelsmann (Spain).
- Fundación GatsbycoreUK foundation that developed the Good Career Guidance model (Gatsby Benchmarks). Collaborated with Fundación Bertelsmann since 2018 to adapt the Gatsby Benchmarks to the Spanish educational context.
- OECDminorParticipated in Global Career Education Forum 2026. Hannah Kitchen, OECD policy analyst, highlighted importance of connecting education with professional world from early ages.
- Real Instituto ElcanominorSpanish international relations think tank that co-hosted NATO analysis event with Fundación Bertelsmann and Bertelsmann Foundation.
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Grupo de Investigación sobre Políticas Educativas SupranacionalesminorAcademic research partnership for comparative analysis of career guidance systems in 10 countries.
- Empresas Que Inspiran partner companiescoreCompanies like Amazon that participate in career guidance by opening work environments to students. Amazon won Premio a la Excelencia en FP 2026.
- 8 Catalan municipalities (group of work)minorLocal administrations that participated in working group on municipal role in career guidance within Xcelence-Escuelas Que Inspiran project.
- Empieza Por EducarminorSpanish partner in Global Career Education Network (GCEN), co-implementer of pilot project 'Escuelas Que Inspiran' (2020).
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bertelsmann Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bertelsmann Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceBertelsmann Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bertelsmann Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Bertelsmann Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Bertelsmann Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bertelsmann Foundation
What does Bertelsmann Foundation do?
Fundación Bertelsmann develops and disseminates programs that improve academic-professional orientation and dual vocational training in Spain. Its core offer is the Xcelence framework (10 keys for quality career guidance in educational centers), supported by a free digital self-assessment platform (xcelence.es), the Escuelas que Inspiran pilot, and the Empresas que Inspiran program that connects companies with schools. It also runs dual training initiatives (Alianza para la FP Dual, Retos FP 2030, dual university training) and publishes research such as the Radiografía de la Formación Dual Universitaria.
Is Bertelsmann Foundation a public or private company?
Bertelsmann Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bertelsmann Foundation founded?
Bertelsmann Foundation was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bertelsmann Foundation based?
Bertelsmann Foundation is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Bertelsmann Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundation Operations.
Does Bertelsmann Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bertelsmann Foundation.
What industry is Bertelsmann Foundation in?
Bertelsmann Foundation's product category is Education and Career Guidance Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAABAK, College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways), with a secondary code of EDAIAJAB, Private Pathway & Foundation Providers. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.